2015 BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFIER ACCEPTANCES

2015 BOSTON MARATHON QUALIFIER ACCEPTANCES

Notification to applicants begins Wednesday, September 24

BOSTON – The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) today continued its notification to applicants of their acceptance into the 2015 Boston Marathon®. In preparation for the 2015 Boston Marathon, the B.A.A. implemented the same registration process for qualified runners as it used in the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Marathons, allowing the fastest qualifiers to register first. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015 and will mark the 30th consecutive year that the event will have John Hancock Financial as its principal sponsor.

In cooperation with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the eight cities and towns along the Boston Marathon route, the B.A.A. has set the field size for the 2015 Boston Marathon at 30,000 official entrants. More than 80% of the field will be comprised of athletes who have met the qualifying standards. The balance will consist of invitational entrants, many of whom run for local charitable organizations. Since 1989, between the B.A.A.’s Official Charity Program and principal sponsor John Hancock Financial’s Non-Profit Bib Program for the Boston Marathon, more than $200 million has been raised for charity. 

Registration for runners who met the B.A.A.’s Qualifying Standards for the 2015 Boston Marathon began on Monday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. ET using a “rolling admission” schedule and continued through Saturday, September 13 at 10:00 p.m. ET. Registration re-opened on Monday, September 15 at 10:00 a.m. and application submissions were received through Wednesday, September 17 at 5:00 p.m. ET.

·         25,493 applications were received during the registration period for qualifiers.

·         23,546 Qualified applicants have been accepted to date or are in the process of being accepted, pending verification of their qualifying performance.

·         1,947 applicants were unable to be accepted due to the large number of eligible qualifiers who submitted an application for entry combined with field size limitations.

·         Details of the B.A.A.’s registration process for Qualifiers can be found on the following web page:http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/athlete-registration.aspx

During the first week of registration, when the fastest of all Qualifiers submitted their application for entry:

·         4,093 Qualifiers accepted met their qualifying time by 20 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.

·         6,490 Qualifiers accepted met their qualifying time by 10 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.

·         6,160 Qualifiers accepted met their qualifying time by 05 minutes, 00 seconds or faster.

During the second week of registration, 6,447 Qualifiers were accepted. These were Qualifiers who were one minute, two seconds (1:02) or faster than the Qualifying time for their age group and gender. (Last year, for the 2014 Boston Marathon, Qualifiers who were one minute, 38 seconds or faster than the Qualifying time for their age group and gender were accepted.)

In addition, 356 Qualifiers who have an active streak of ten or more consecutive Boston Marathon completed also entered during a pre-registration period in August and have been accepted. In the coming months, qualified elite athletes and athletes with disabilities will be added to the field.

Those who submitted a verified qualifying performance that was 1 minute, 02 seconds or faster than the qualifying standard for their age and gender have been accepted into the race. Qualifying performances for the 2015 Boston Marathon must have been run between September 14, 2013 and September 17, 2014.  Notices via email to those accepted will be issued by the B.A.A. beginning today.

The names of those runners who have been accepted will be posted on the “Entrants” page of the B.A.A.’s web site:http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/entrants.aspx

Some of those entrants who ultimately will be accepted will not be notified of their acceptance or have their name appear because validation of qualifying performances is ongoing. The amount of time to verify the performance of qualifiers can vary from race to race.

“We never like to tell anyone who has worked so hard to qualify for the Boston Marathon that there is not space for them in the field,” said Tom Grilk, B.A.A. Executive Director. “Many of us know personally how difficult it is to meet those standards.  But we also need to limit the field size for the race in order to provide the best and safest possible experience for those for whom we do have space.  We run over most of the same roads that were used in the first marathon in 1897, and that requires us to achieve the best balance that we can between inclusion and quality.”

Notices to those who submitted an application for entry but who were not accepted were also issued today.

2015 BOSTON MARATHON : Men’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times*

AGE GROUP	QUALIFYING STANDARD	QUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including)
18-34	3hrs 05min 00sec	3hrs 03min 58sec
35-39	3hrs 10min 00sec	3hrs 08min 58sec
40-44	3hrs 15min 00sec	3hrs 13min 58sec
45-49	3hrs 25min 00sec	3hrs 23min 58sec
50-54	3hrs 30min 00sec	3hrs 28min 58sec
55-59	3hrs 40min 00sec	3hrs 38min 58sec
60-64	3hrs 55min 00sec	3hrs 53min 58sec
65-69	4hrs 10min 00sec	4hrs 08min 58sec
70-74	4hrs 25min 00sec	4hrs 23min 58sec
75-79	4hrs 40min 00sec	4hrs 38min 58sec
80 and older	4hrs 55min 00sec	4hrs 53min 58sec

2015 BOSTON MARATHON : Women’s Qualifying Standards and Accepted Times*

AGE GROUP	QUALIFYING STANDARD	QUALIFICATION TIMES ACCEPTED (faster than and including)
18-34	3hrs 35min 00sec	3hrs 33min 58sec
35-39	3hrs 40min 00sec	3hrs 38min 58sec
40-44	3hrs 45min 00sec	3hrs 43min 58sec
45-49	3hrs 55min 00sec	3hrs 53min 58sec
50-54	4hrs 00min 00sec	3hrs 58min 58sec
55-59	4hrs 10min 00sec	4hrs 08min 58sec
60-64	4hrs 25min 00sec	4hrs 23min 58sec
65-69	4hrs 40min 00sec	4hrs 38min 58sec
70-74	4hrs 55min 00sec	4hrs 53min 58sec
75-79	5hrs 10min 00sec	5hrs 08min 58sec
80 and older	5hrs 25min 00sec	5hrs 25min 58sec

* Potential, qualified entrants for the 2015 Boston Marathon must have met the designated time standard that corresponds with their age group and gender in a certified marathon on or after September 14, 2013 and prior to having submitted an entry application. Proof of qualification must accompany each athlete's application, and participants are required to be 18 years or older on race day.

Qualifying performances achieved on or after Saturday, September 13, 2014 will be valid for 2016 Boston Marathon registration submissions. The registration dates for that year’s race have not yet been established.


ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES - QUALIFYING TIMES & REGISTRATION DATES

Registration for Athletes with Disabilities will occur on a "rolling admission" schedule, beginning with the fastest qualifiers on Wednesday, October 8 at 10:00 a.m. ET. For more information, please visit: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/qualifying/athletes-with-disabilities.aspx

ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)

Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through sports, especially running. The B.A.A.’s Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon, and the organization manages other local events and supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round running programs. Since 1986, the principal sponsor of the Boston Marathon has been John Hancock Financial. The Boston Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors, along with the international marathons in Tokyo , London , Berlin , Chicago , and New York City . More than 60,000 runners will participate in B.A.A. events in 2014. The 119th Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 20, 2015. For more information on the B.A.A., please visit www.baa.org.

波士頓訂十月為大學月

Success Boston and Boston Public Schools teach College Knowledge this October with College Month

BOSTON – College is a family choice, and college planning begins in Kindergarten. These two themes will guide a City of Boston initiative, College Month, from September 27 through October 31. While College Month 2014 may target Boston high school students across the City, Success Boston and Boston Public Schools plan to spark early college awareness in students and families of the state’s largest school district.

Boston Public Schools and the City of Boston launched College Month in 2006 to promote Get Ready for College Day activities for BPS eighth graders, as well as the distribution of a newly-developed BPS College and Career Guide. Eight years later, College Month is sustained by BPS and the community partnerships of the Success Boston College Completion Initiative. Success Boston, launched in 2008, is a partnership of the Office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the Boston Public Schools, the Boston Foundation, the University of Massachusetts-Boston, Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), and more than 50 higher education and nonprofit institutions. The initiative is working to double – to 70% – the six-year college completion rate of BPS graduates.

College Month is a multi-pronged college readiness strategy that combines the collective ways teachers, community organizations, and higher education institutions are talking with BPS students about their futures. “College Month is entirely student-facing,” said BPS High School Network Superintendent Mary Skipper. “It puts students face-to-face with the reality that college planning begins now – no matter which grade you are in.”

College Month 2014 will begin with a College and Career Fair on September 27 at the Madison Park Technical/Vocational High School in Roxbury. The Fair’s sponsors, BPS and Boston Scholar Athletes, expect more than 800 students and parents to connect with 90 colleges and universities from across New England and as far away as Georgia.

Then, on the night of October 1 at the Boston School Committee meeting, School Committee members will kick off October by showing their alma-mater pride in honor of the City and District tradition.

Each week in College Month will highlight a “college knowledge” theme. Students across elementary, middle, and high schools will participate in age-appropriate college awareness.

Week 1: Empowering Students and Families through Financial Aid: uAspire, a non-profit Success Boston member dedicated to helping students apply for and receive financial aid, will reach nearly 1,000 students during College Month through its Afford College 101 Workshops. Adam Reinke of uAspire wants families to know that financial aid is an accessible process. “The workshops empower young people for whom finances must play an important factor,” Reinke said. uAspire is available free of charge to help all students and families with college affordability needs or questions. Last year, College Month financial aid lessons reached as early as first grade, where students saved pennies to learn decision making and to start individual college savings.

Week 2: Ensuring Student and Family Planning and Preparation: The Boston Scholar Athletes, a non-profit organization partnering with A-List Education to offer SAT preparation in 18 BPS high schools, will host College Admissions Awareness week. Along with college and university open houses, and scholarship and college essay strategies, Boston Scholar Athletes expects that College Month will help students and families think about the benchmarks of college planning before sophomore year, such as PSAT and SAT testing. Boston Scholar Athletes will launch its scholarship during Admissions week and hold Tweet Chats along with other non-profits to engage students via social media.

To support students’ college planning, BPS has partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), and the Department of Higher Education to launch an online post-secondary planning portal, Your Plan for the Future (YPFF), available at 22 high schools in its pilot year. Each student will have access to individual college readiness data and a wealth of information, tutorials, and application tracking through YPFF. 

Week 3: Bringing BPS Alumni Home: University of Massachusetts-Boston student and BPS graduate Jean Charles is one of 1,800 students supported by transitional coaching models through Success Boston. A Success Boston Student Leadership Committee member, Charles developed an alumni engagement strategy with the National College Advising Corps. Placing recent college graduates as college advisors in 15 BPS high schools this September, the National College Advising Corps’ Boston Chapter and BPS alumni leaders will reach nearly 8,000 students during Alumni Engagement week.

According to Charles, a graduate of the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science, BPS alumni bring a powerful message of college success. “BPS graduates represent different languages, cultures, and high schools,” he said. “That diversity translates well into college and career success. There are BPS graduates everywhere doing amazing things. I want to share that and help promote the great opportunities that college offers. There’s an entire network of people out there who can help every high school student build a future.”

Week 4: Connecting College and Career Readiness: Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), also a Success Boston member, will distribute student take-away cards with degree attainment and total lifetime earnings, and “hot jobs” in sciences, technology and healthcare. According to PIC’s Josh Bruno, teachers used the cards last year in math lessons to conceptualize the value of a college education and career options. Students in early grades will meet with professionals across industries to understand connections between college and career.

Students and families can ask questions pertaining to college, financial aid, and career by using the hashtag, #CollegeMonth.

Boston Public Schools and non-profit partners will extend the lessons of College Month well beyond October 31. In collaboration with Success Boston, BPS is planning follow-up College Boot Camps and in-school initiatives to ensure college knowledge is a daily lesson.

夏日星辰野生動物保護區 9/20 揭幕啟用

麻州本地華裔慈善家劉沙林繼捐款建成“岩港劉沙林表演中心”後，九月廿日在麻州東部波約斯頓(Boylston)鎮再揭幕“夏日星辰野生動物保護區（Summer Star Wildlife Sanctuary）”，為改善世界生態環境，為人類社會保留一片自然淨土，踏出她個人的一大步。

  劉沙林為強調保護自然，連步道屋的設計，都有回收雨水，
以循環使用，節約水資源的設計。（菊子攝）

            佔地45英畝的“夏日星辰野生動物保護區（Summer Star Wildlife Sanctuary）”，建有一座內含樹屋，藝廊，佔地五千平方尺的步道屋（Trail House），目前闢有兩條步道，一條長約四分之一英哩，另一條長約一哩，逢週六至週二，免費開放，供大眾欣賞大自然之美。

夏日星辰野生動物保護區步道屋藏在入口處的樹林後。（菊子攝）

            這保護區也將和麻州奧杜邦學會（Audubon Society）合作，為地方學校，耆英機構，資源匱乏社區舉辦自然保育方面的講座，同時培訓大專青少年做園區嚮導，既推廣保護大自然觀念，也為青少年提供暑期工機會。

        步道屋裡不但有小型圖書館，還有影片放映室，可實況轉播塔芙茨大學野生動物保護醫療診所及中心的保育動物情況，或放映其他影片。

整個步道屋不但符合LEED環保標準，還有雨水亭，設計來回收雨水，灌溉屋頂上草坪，沖洗廁所，以更充分實踐保護自然環境生態理念。

步道屋入口處做過景觀處理，但仍保留土地自然味道。（菊子攝）

        人們漫步走進“夏日星辰野生動物保護區“時，在樹林，山丘間會不期而遇蟾蜍，東方蠑螈，烏梢蛇，烤箱鳥（ovenbirds），名為veery，pewee等的樹鳥，甚至還能聽到啄木鳥的啄木聲。

            劉沙林表示，每種動物都有適於他們生存的自然環境，建野生動物保護區既為保護這些動物的生存條件，也是為未來世代保護世界的生態平衡，給人類更多機會認識自己與大自然。

劉沙林（右）與女兒吳幼琳一起慶祝夏日星辰野生動物
保護區啟用。（菊子攝）

從2000年左右開始從事慈善活動的劉沙林，一向喜歡大自然，動物。她成立的“夏日星辰自然藝術人文基金會（Summer Star Foundation for Nature Art and Humanity）“在支持塔芙茨大學獸醫系做野生動物保護，研究，護理人員培訓之餘，早從七年以前就開始尋覓妥當地點，和在麻州擁有2200英畝保留地，另在麻州36個市鎮做2000多畝土地保留，生態維護項目的賽德百利谷信託會（Sudbury Valley trustees）一起勘察了許多地點，最後在居民只有4355人的波約斯頓鎮，看上八年前已批准要蓋房屋，預計有34戶住宅，連賈米森嶺（Jamison's Ridge）這名字都起好了的林登（Linden） 街690號這塊地。

夏日星辰野生動物保護區入口處有歡迎牌，遊客指南。（菊子攝）

            選定地點後，從這塊地該如何規劃，才能達到最佳的野生動物保育目標，到徒步路徑及步道屋該如何設計，才能兼顧美感，實用，還能符合環保要求，都讓工作團隊大傷腦筋。期間他們遭遇到鄰居有出入路權，遊客熙來攘往可能會破壞地方安寧，建步道屋的材料選擇，土壤質地，鎮政府的要求等諸多出乎意料問題，整個工程進展大受影響。

            放在步道屋裏的保護區模型，由負責景觀設計，遠從明尼蘇達州請來藍犀牛（Blue Rhino）公司製作，為兼顧創新，創意，契合自然大地色彩感覺，也花費了難以計數的心思，時間。

步道屋內最特別的挑空建築。（菊子攝）

        根據當地英文媒體的報導，劉沙林為解決鄰居們怕前往參觀人們的車輛停洎附近，會擾亂地方安寧，她還特地買下附近的林登街696號，必要時做停車場。如果這地方要用來辦聚會，也會在事前向鎮政府申請酒牌或相關許可牌照。

            2010年時，劉沙林捐款三百萬元，協助岩港音樂會（Rockport Music）建成“劉沙林表演中心”。今年（2014）她陸續斥資將近六百萬元的“夏日星辰野生動物保護區“落成啟用。據悉，為了在最不影響原有土地生態情況下進行整建工程，單只是建造步道屋，就花了四百五十萬元。

            九月廿日這天，包括將播放塔芙茨大學野生動物保護醫療診所及中心副教授Mark Pokras，麻州奧杜邦學會主任Deb Cary，賽德百利谷信託會（Sudbury Valley trustees）主任

Dan Stimson，建築師Tim Hess，建築公司Consigli的項目經理Mike Carpentier，DSK 建築公司，景觀建築師Kaki Martin，RINET金融公司，藝術家Joyce Dwyer等人一一致詞，讓四，五十名開幕式的應邀觀禮者，都感受到這項目完成得還真不容易。

            劉沙林自己也鬆了一口氣的表示，“夏日星辰野生動物保護區“剪綵啟用，只是一個開始。她希望以後有更多人能在這兒倘佯在大自然中，享受那份寧靜，欣喜於各種動物，植物的和諧共處。

AACYF: 趙美心成為美國華裔參政的重要推手

赵美心成为美国华裔参政的重要推手

http://www.aacyf.org/?p=4429

赵美心成为美国华裔参政的重要推手

9月23日晚， 赵美心在洛杉矶选区内举办竞选活动，应邀出席的众多华裔民选官员、侨界知名人士盛赞赵美心在当选国会众议员后，除了在维护华人权益等方面发挥了重要作用之外，在推动和扶持华人参政等方面，更做出了亮丽的成绩，华裔民选官员队伍在加州的壮大，赵美心功不可没。

在当天晚会中致词的加州华裔参议员刘云平表示，参政以来一直得到赵美心的支持和鼓励，从参加各类助选活动、给予背书支持、在党内推荐等，从来是不遗余力。目前、也正全力支持他在今年11月竞选美国国会众议员。

加州华裔众议员周本立在发言中表示，自己从参选学区教育委员开始，到参选州众议员，选区就是当年赵美心和她先生伍国庆曾先后出任众议员的同一选区，完全是因为他们的全力支持，首次就从学区教育委员，直接参选州众议员，并获得成功。

加州审计长江俊辉、阿罕布拉市市议员沈时康、蒙特利公园市市议员黄维刚、梁侨汉， 嘉伟学区的教育委员罗亨利以及众多的各级华裔民选官员，在他们的竞选过程中和背书支持的重量级人物中，都可以看到赵美心的身影。

赵美心在集会时激动的表示，华裔选民对她长期的支持，一直令她感到鼓舞。当天到场的近700多名嘉宾，不少是赵美心的长期支持者，美国华人公共外交协会会长任向东表示，从她担任加州众议员开始，到她竞选 平权委员会委员，再到成功竞选国会众议员，一直在支持她。还记得赵美心首次竞选国会议员的投票日当晚，当天参加竞选之夜的华人朋友还不是太多。

现在不仅是支持她的华裔民众日渐增多，其他族裔的支持者也有显著的增长。她也充分发挥自己的影响力，在自己争取竞选连任的同时，以联动效应，邀请参选各级职位的华裔候选人参加自己的各类活动，为这些参选者们提供曝光、发表政见的机会，并为华裔参选人争取各族裔的选票。近两年， 赵美心担当华裔从政重要推手的角色日渐明显，目前在她周围已经形成了一批华裔名选官员的中坚力量。

罗省中华会馆主席伍尚齐、全美中华青年联合会理事长朱冰峰、美国南加州华人华侨联合会詹瑞娥、刘丰，美华国际青年商会副会长王国庆、北美海峡两岸文化交流协会白冬梅、罗省同源会的陈灿培、张君帆等表示，赵美心对自己的角色有深刻的认知，既有坚定的族裔认同，又有较为开放的心态，但是在华裔参政问题上，她一直表示，靠个人的单打独斗，在美国的政治体制中有很大的局限。华裔的选票本来就少，再加上因为选区划分而造成的选票分散，与其鼓励华裔积极投票，不如鼓励更多优秀的华裔参选各级民选官员。这样可以更为有效的壮大华裔在政界的实力和影响力，赵美心意识到了这一点，并在这一方面作出了相当大的贡献。 （AACYF洛杉矶讯）